Taunton and Coyle-Cassidy football teams set to play the 80th edition of Thanksgiving Day rivalry

Dan Morrison

Thursday

Nov 25, 2010 at 12:01 AMNov 25, 2010 at 1:06 PM

Perhaps more than in any other season in recent memory, this year’s edition of "The GAME" has more than just bragging rights on the line.

Perhaps more than in any other season in recent memory, this year’s edition of "The GAME" has more than just bragging rights on the line.

When the Taunton High School and Coyle-Cassidy football teams face off this morning at 10 a.m. at Taunton High School in the 80th meeting between the two Silver City schools, they won’t be playing for playoff berths or league championships but rather for pride.

With both the Tigers (0-9) and Warriors (0-10) winless on the season entering the Thanksgiving Day game for the first time, the two schools will battle it out with hopes of finally punching into the win column before the season officially draws to a close.

The players, coaches, team records all change throughout the years but pride remains the one constant in the long-standing rivalry and today’s game should be chalk-full of it.

"I think there’s an awful lot of pride in this game," said C-C head coach Tom Pileski.

The last three games in the series have been decided by less than a touchdown (an 8-7 Taunton win last year; 24-21 C-C win in 2008; 28-22 Taunton win in 2007), and today’s game should be no different.

"Over the last three years they have been very competitive games," Pileski said. "I think that both teams have given the people their money’s worth because there’s been some real excellent athletes out there competing."

While neither team has had the type of season it envisioned having back in August, either would be lying if it said the annual matchup against its cross-town rival didn’t mean anything.

"There should be — believe it or not — as much on the line as there would be if both teams were undefeated," said Taunton head coach Mark Hannon.

Taunton and C-C have both gone through growing pains this season and had their fair share of injuries and unlucky bounces.

But all that frustration and disappointment can be swept away and forgotten with a win today.

"Both teams have had tough seasons," Hannon said. "The team that wants it, the team that gets the ball bouncing their way is going to come away with a victory."

The Tigers will receive a boost on offense with the return of running back Cabrinni Goncalves to the lineup.

The senior, who is a dangerous home run threat from the backfield, missed Taunton’s last game against Bridgewater-Raynham on Nov. 12 with an injury but Hannon said the talented speedster is set to return to the field today.

"That’s a shot in the arm for the team," Hannon said on Goncalves’ return. "He’s had a few weeks off and he’s been banged up all season, so that’s got to give the team a bit of a mental lift."

The Tigers will also need production from their offensive line and defense if they want to expand their current 41-36-2 lead in the all-time series.

C-C has had trouble keeping teams out of the end zone this season but the Warriors showed last season that they’re capable of slowing down Goncalves and the Tigers.

"We can’t allow any of their backs to get to the outside because they have more speed than we do," Pileski said. "What we have to do is contain them and make the field small in order to be successful defensively."

Offensively, the Warriors have shown they aren’t afraid to throw the ball with quarterback Ryan Feeney, but they can also pound the ground game with Jack Birmingham, Andrew Rodriguez and Tim Holmes. They also have a versatile player in Tyler Rogers, who is very dangerous in the return game.

"I think they’re a well-rounded team that just hasn’t had much luck," Hannon said. "They play hard and they’re big. They’re bigger than we are up front. They play hard for four quarters and that’s what I expect from them, especially on Thanksgiving."

Both coaches know their players understand the meaning of this rivalry and fully expect their teams to show up and play hard, despite their records.

"It’s always a big game. Last game of the season, it’s always a big game," Hannon said. "It’s big for the seniors to go out with a win and it’s big for the underclassmen to leave a good taste in their mouth for next season."

Contact Dan Morrison at dmorrison@tauntongazette.com

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